The Manor - castles and wild flowers

I like to do a lot of urban walks in Sheffield. There are so many interesting green spaces to walk through and views to be savoured. In summer a walk around Manor Castle and Manor Fields is a must. Both places are wildflower central. During lockdown the only drawback was that the Rhubarb Shed cafe was shut. At the time of writing it is open on Saturdays only if you pre-book and tell them in advance what you will be eating. I generally walk from my house in Heeley. But I shall describe the walk starting at Sheffield Railway station.

From the back of the station cross the tram tracks and go diagonally up to the right to reach the road. Cross over and take a path that winds up to the cholera monument. This whole area was, in the 19th century, overcrowded and poor housing with bad sanitation. When cholera resulted thousands died. Now it is a green space with wild flowers and trees. The view over the city at the monument is spectacular.

                                                                Cholera monument

Keep to the right of the monument and take the path ahead which goes through trees, and with houses down on the right. When you reach a road go left and then right until you reach the main Granville Road just opposite the grand entrance to Norfolk Park, with its old Victorian ornate gas lamp outside. Walk up the grand avenue keeping straight on up the left side of the park. At the top a path goes up to take you out of the park onto St. Aidans Road. 

Cross over and up the steep grassy bank ahead to a newish housing estate. Keep straight ahead and the street bends round to the left and at the end on the right is a footpath leading through to City Road. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn right to reach the main entrance to City Road Cemetery. Go up steps ahead, just the first flight and then turn left. The path bends round right and then keep straight on down through the graves, crossing a couple of path junctions. When a road crosses your path you will see a rather derelict chapel and you turn left to pass this and out of the side entrance to the cemetery. 
Immediately out of the gate on the left an enterprising person has made their garden into a flower stall.


At the end of the road turn right and you will see the ruins of Manor Castle on your left. Cross over to admire the ruins and see the interpretation board with the history of the castle and its famous inhabitant, Mary Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned there. Just past the castle the entrance to the visitor centre car park will take you into the wonderful wild flower meadows designed and planted by Pictorial Meadows. Wander at will down through the flowers, going roughly north. At the bottom of the hill there is a little orchard and beyond that old farm buildings which now house artists' workshops and the cafe. If the gate from the meadow is locked go right across the meadow towards the road and round the front of the buildings to enter the car park. The cafe is round to the left, past the impressive bug hotel. If you walk down to the lower car park you will be able to see the allotments where more wild flowers are grown.

                                                Wildflowers at Manor Castle

Leaving the car park again cross the road and go down the road opposite taking the first right turn. Towards the end of this road is a little park on the left. Go into the park, but immediately turn left and leave it very soon. Turn left to reach Manor Park area and turn right, past the shopping and bus terminus and keep going. Where the road bends right take the path straight ahead and at the top turn right up the grassy hill. 

At the top of the hill the Manor Fields area opens up. This is a lovely area to explore. There are beautiful wild flowers, wild raspberries and little wetland areas. Take any path you fancy across this area going towards City Road and with the cemetery on your right - you can't get lost. Before you leave the area make sure you take in the little ponds in the top left corner. There are moorhens nesting here and beds of wild watercress.

At City Road turn right and cross with care. If you want to return to the railway station walk down City Road until you are opposite the Cemetery  entrance and through an alley that goes down the side of a stonemasons. This will bring you back into the newish housing estate. Go straight on and bend round to the left and down some steps. Keep going down hill until you see the steps back into Norfolk Park. You can turn left and go back through the park along the other side. I like to keep going  round the top of the park past the Centre in the Park and some lovely old park lodges, and the big stone arch. Then round to the left, and on the right just before an exit are steps going down into a wooded ravine. A lovely place to walk down when the wild garlic is at it height.Leave the park, turn left to arrive at Sheffield College and right there to go back to the station.

An alternative, if you want to see another little gem is from City  Road, after leaving Manor Fields, cross over and go along the tram tracks past the Sprig Lane stop and up the hill ahead. Keep bending round to the left at the top of the hill and on the right is an entrance into Arbourthorne Playing fields. Go into the fields, turn left circling round the edge of a field and then straight on into the next field. At the top of a small mound bear left along a dike to reach a gate out onto the road. Opposite here is Arbourthorne Pond. The pond is usually well cared for, so it is a nice place to linger for a while. And from here the 51 bus will take you back to town.


Arbourthorne Pond

To get back to Heeley I turn left on leaving the pond, past the school and turn right onto Eastern Avenue and then left down the steep grassy slope to East Bank road.  From here any number of routes will take you through to Gleadless Road. I suggest going down hill to Myrtle Road, turn left along there, getting great views down to the city. At the end before the road bends right, just past an abandoned pub and a lovely little white house, go across a grassy area, cross over to a cobbled path going steeply down, across another road by an old electricity sub station, and down the steps. On your right beneath the grid station is a little stretch of vegetable garden that some of us locals have been tending. Stop and admire our handy work! Gleadless Road is just beyond there on the far side of an overgrown piece of wasteland.


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